AAMRI Staff
Frances Bell
Frances joined AAMRI WA in January 2021, following an 18-year career in journalism with ABC News. She has extensive experience in communications, policy and government engagement, having reported on state and federal politics in Perth, Melbourne and Canberra.
Frances is responsible for coordinating the activities of AAMRI WA, including government and stakeholder relations, policy submissions, strategic projects and facilitating collaboration.
Dr Saraid Billiards
Saraid joined AAMRI as CEO in August 2022. Dr Billiards joins AAMRI most recently from the Australian Government’s Department of Health where she was a Director in the Health and Medical Research Office for the past three years. Her previous experience working at the National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) gives her direct experience working in Australia’s largest funding agencies.
Saraid oversees all aspects of AAMRI’s activities, including operations, government and stakeholder relations, member services, and and medical research policy and strategy.
Michelle Marvan
Michelle joined AAMRI in 2022 as the Executive Officer of VicAAMRI, representing Victoria’s independent medical research institutes.
Kathryn Naumenko
As AAMRI’s Member Services & Events Manager, Kathryn organises all AAMRI events, including the AAMRI Annual Convention & Dinner and takes the lead with AAMRI’s member relations. Kathryn joined AAMRI in September 2015 and has managed a variety of successful high profile, large scale, in-person and online events in that time.
Dr Andrew Hastings
Andy became the Executive Director, Policy and Operations at AAMRI in October 2022, and takes the lead in setting AAMRI’s policy direction and overseeing the everyday running of the organisation. He originally joined AAMRI as the Manager of the Victorian Chapter (VicAAMRI) in October 2017, representing Victoria’s independent medical research institutes.
Andy is a trained scientist and has over a decade of experience in Australia’s research and innovation ecosystem, particularly in science and technology policy, government relations, and stakeholder engagement.
Aimee Sanderson
Aimee joined AAMRI in April 2018 as the Senior Marketing and Communications Manager. Having previously worked with a variety of medical research institutes and not-for-profit organisations in Australia and the UK, she brings a wealth of knowledge to the role.
She sets the direction or AAMRI’s communications and advocacy campaigns, and assists in external stakeholders relations.
Claire Smoorenburg
Claire joined AAMRI in August 2022 as Communications Coordinator, having worked in the medical research, biotechnology and pharmaceutical sectors. She holds a background in science and professional communications.
Utilising digital communications, social media and campaigns, Claire is responsible for the promotion of Australian medical research institutes, their research breakthroughs and the extraordinary impact they have on people’s lives.
